ARE WE LIVING BENEATH OUR PRIVILEGES?

 

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  (2 Peter 1:2-4)

The man who wrote these words had an audacious faith that enabled him to access an awesome force, and thus, to have an amazing impact.  His name was Simon, but Jesus gave him the name, Peter—the Rock.  His ministry would be foundational to the building of the church—and so his influence is still being felt today.

If you have read your Bible at all, then you are aware that Peter had his failures—and some of them were huge.  He was not Superman; he was a man of flesh as we are—a real human with real human weaknesses.  Nevertheless, he also was a man who did not allow those limitations to prevent him from tapping into the limitless resources of God!

That should encourage us, for he assures us that those same resources are available to all those who know Christ.  Twice in these opening verses of his second letter, the Apostle references this knowledge of God and His Son.  It is out of that context—the intimate connection with God through His Son—that we have all He is available for all that He wants us to be!  Are we living beneath our privileges?

The Lord is not stingy in His gifts—“grace and peace” are not simply added to us in small measure, they are “multiplied” with exponential possibilities!  There is no excuse for failing to attain the high and holy life of maximum impact that God has for us, except that we do not know or do not care!  I am attempting with God’s help to deal with those two issues—in my life first, and then in yours.

Divine power—the Almighty God’s power—may be experienced and from that we may freely receive the standard of living Jesus purchased for us on Calvary and provides in resurrection life.  Peter is pointed when he proclaims, “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”  What more could we need?

God assures us, “by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”  We are in the world, but do not have to be of the world.  We can be Heaven’s change agents in this world!  That is what Jesus came to do—and is doing.  It is what He desires to do through you and me, as He lives mightily in and though us!  Let us not live beneath our privileges!

GRACIOUS SUPPLY FOR GOD’S SERVICE

 

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.  (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Grace is the motivation to do what we would not do otherwise and the power to do what we could not do ourselves.  It is all that Christ is for all that I need.  There is certainly a grace that saves us from sin, a grace that sustains us in struggle, and a grace that secures us for Heaven.  But, there is also a grace that strengthens us for service.  That is what Paul is promising in 2 Corinthians 9:8.

We are to be channels that the grace of God flows into and then out of to accomplish His good work.  He has abundant resources available for us—and then this grace is shared by us as we labor for Him.

It is a labor of love.  We do not serve grudgingly in an attempt to earn God’s favor, but gladly in response to His favor already bestowed.   That is grace and not legalism.  

How can we experience God’s love and not desire to return it to Him?  The evidence I have experienced such love is that I will express love to those created in His image.  As I serve others, I am serving Christ.  When I do it to “the least of these” then I am rendering it unto Him (see Matthew 25:31-46).

We should read 1 Corinthians 13 and see how God’s kind of love is wrought through us.  It is more than a feeling, deeper than an emotion, greater than words alone.  Love is practical.  It puts on its work clothes, rolls up its sleeves, and inspiration yields perspiration.

Love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails.”  (1 Cor.13:7-8a).  Love will bear the burdens of others who would be crushed under life’s load if we did not lift them.  Love believes the best about others for it seeks the best for them.  Love will hope in the hopeless knowing that none are beyond the reach of the grace of God that reached us.  Love doesn’t give up or give out because it is as eternal as the God Who is love itself.  People may fail us, but love doesn’t fail—we always come out ahead when we love, even if such love is not returned.

Love enables us to see the incredible need around us, as Jesus did.  Hear His heart,

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”  (Matthew 9:36-38)

The need is great, but God’s grace is greater still!  One of the ways God’s grace operates is by raising our eyes to see opportunity and raising up laborers in response to our prayers.  God uses people—His resources are distributed by human resources as He works to accomplish eternal purposes.  There is more to be done than I can do.  Arrogance will lead me to try to do the job alone.  Humility brings me to my knees and God moves in response to my heart cry by moving in the hearts of others to partner in the harvest.  There is much to be done after we pray, but nothing can be done until we pray.

I serve Him because He first stirred me—doubtless, in response to the prayers of others.  Now, He will work likewise by my supplications.  He opens our eyes to see lost lambs wandering without a shepherd, easy prey for the wolves of this world that would drag them down to hell.  Satan prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking sheep to devour.  When we see this and develop a burden, God works in grace to call us to be His shepherds.  He opens our eyes to see the potential harvest.  His grace reminds us that unless that harvest is gathered before winter it will be lost forever.  There is a season of opportunity—and this isn’t about gathering grain, but eternal souls!

Let us pray that grace will abound so that in all things and at all times and for all tasks, God will equip is to do all He desires to do in and through us.  His assignment always brings His enablement.

BOUNTIFULLY BLESSED

 

Blessed be the Lord,

Who daily loads us with benefits,
The God of our salvation!
Selah  (Psalm 68:19)

Glory to the God of all grace!  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!  Every day, He loads down my wagon with goodness.  How about you?  Stop and count your blessings.  In the words of the old hymn, “name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”

Foremost, I am grateful that the Lord my Shepherd sought patiently for this wandering lamb.  He saved me, cleaned me up and secured me in His fold.  Oh what a price He paid to rescue me!  From this great salvation, every spiritual blessing is mine in Christ Jesus!

Behind that eternal relationship, is the next best—my earthly relationships with my family.  What a gift from God my wife is to me!  She is all I could have ever hoped for—a dream come true!  Marilyn has given me five precious children, and thus far, eleven grandchildren—and they are grand.  It is possible there might be even more to come.  I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home and still have my parents with me.  Insofar as I know, the family circle will be unbroken in heaven for all profess to follow Christ.  How inexpressibly wonderful this is!

Besides the blessing of my faith, and family, there is the blessing of my flock—the privilege of serving the church through the call to preach the Word of God!  To exchange the position of serving as a pastor for that of a prince, would be to take a step down!  If you had told me that I would teach a Sunday School class as large as the congregation I served in the first two churches, I would have found that hard to believe, but I do.  In the little country church where I first ministered, I often thought that to preach to one hundred each Sunday would be thrilling, and yet I preach to four and five times that amount each week!  I would have laughed at that as an impossibility, but it is a reality.  To think, that as I type these words—through social media—I can instantly reach around the world with the Gospel is amazing!  It is an amazing grace.

The particular church I serve—Pole Creek Baptist Church—has just honored me and our other ministers with Pastoral Appreciation Day.  They expressed their love with words of commendation, a meal they served and an offering they received.  Throughout this month, and really day after day, for the nearly twenty years I have served here, I have been prayed for and partnered with by a good and gracious people.  Sure, there have been some burdens, but the blessings have far outweighed them.  Indeed, every congregation I have served, has been wonderfully supportive of me and my family.  They have loved us, and we love them.  Out of those flocks, we have made many friends that remain dear to us.  When I hear the horror stories of what some pastors go through, and how I know that many serve faithfully while receiving condemnation instead of commendation, it makes me so thankful to God for the blessings He has given me in the churches I have led.

I am a prosperous man!  Compared to most people in the world today, I am rich.  No, I won’t be on a Fortune 500 list, nor be featured on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.”  Nor would I want to be.  Nevertheless, God has prospered me far beyond anything I could have expected.  This morning I woke from a soft bed, dry and safe in the house I live in, with the health and strength to rise up.  I have filled my stomach with food and am drinking a cup of hot coffee.  I will take a warm shower in a little while, and then select some clothes and shoes to wear from a number of options.  Instead of walking where I need to go, I expect to sit down in my car and drive across town.  With all the problems facing our nation currently, I have the privilege still to cast a vote to help determine the government leaders we have, and the course of our country.  Indeed I have journeyed to many parts of the world, and witnessed much splendor in creation.  For the vast majority of people on this planet, all this would be a fairy tale, but it is my life.  I count my blessings and have no reason to complain!

There is so much more that might be said, but I will need eternity to say it—every minute can be filled with praise to the One who has filled me with bountiful blessing!  I will begin today, and will not stop, forever speaking of God’s goodness and grace! 

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

 

 

 

 

ENJOYING GOD

 

For behold, He who forms mountains, And creates the wind, Who declares to man what his thought is, And makes the morning darkness, Who treads the high places of the earth— The LORD God of hosts is His name.  (Amos 4:13)

God alone is the Fountain of Life—the Spring from Whom we may drink and find satisfaction.  All the wells of this world, promise much, yet are as drinking water from the ocean—the more you consume, the thirstier you become.  No wonder that Hell is a place of endless thirst, for it is a place devoid of the Presence of God except for His wrath.

A foretaste of Heaven can be ours, as we enjoy the Blessed Lord now.  We are invited to drink deeply from the well of salvation, in anticipation of the River that flows from the throne of God above, that we shall enjoy eternally.

Who is this God that we may enjoy today?

Amos describes Him as, “He who forms mountains.”  The God who has molded the mountains, can shape us into His grand design.  The Potter takes the human clay and forms us on the wheel of Providence for His glorious purposes. 

He “creates the wind.”  Where does the wind come from?  The Creator has ordained the refreshing breeze to blow.  He sends the Wind of His Spirit to blow upon us as we wilt under the searing sun of this world’s harsh environment, causing us to stand erect and bloom in beauty.

The Eternal Word “declares to man what his thought is.”  We can know the mind of Omniscience for He reveals Himself in His Book, and instructs us by His Spirit.  Imagine—we are directed by the One Who knows the end from the beginning and in every twist and turn of life’s road will show us the way as an unerring Guide! 

Our God “makes the morning darkness,” as when the Jews in the wilderness had the pillar of cloud by day to overshadow them.  In the desert of this spiritual wilderness we must travel, we are sheltered under His shadow. 

He “ treads the high places of the earth.”  It is our privilege to walk with Him, and gaze upon the wondrous vistas and breathe in the exhilarating air—and what a Companion we have to enjoy it with!  Surely there are valleys we must travel through, but He brings us to mountaintop experiences as well.

He is “The LORD”—the Great I AM.  Whatever we need, He is I AM: I am Bread when you are hungry; Water when you are thirsty; Rest when you are weary; Comfort when you are troubled; Mercy when you need forgiveness; Strength when you are challenged; Refuge when you are threatened…and we could go on and on.  God does not supply these needs apart from Himself, but imparts Himself as the fulfillment of the need—an Inexhaustible Supply as an Infinite Source. 

He is “God of hosts” who directs the armies of Heaven—His angel soldiers that He sends to encamp around those who fear Him, therefore, we need fear no man, nor circumstance.  Not even the demons of Hell are a match for Him!  He that brought down the Dragon, and crushed him will grind Satan beneath our feet.

Let Him be the center of our thoughts, the focus of our affections, the goal of our steps—our magnificent obsession.  What a difference that would make!  Do not be detoured from the One thing, even by other good, but lesser things.  As the Westminster Shorter Catechism puts it, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever.”

FAITH THAT WILL NOT FAIL

 

Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.  And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”  (Mark 2:3-5)

These four men believed that if they could bring their friend to Jesus, He could and would help him.  The man could never get there himself.  Someone had to bring him.  But, even when they arrived in the vicinity, with some effort expended, the obstacles appeared too large to overcome.  A seemingly impenetrable wall of people encircled Jesus.  What were they to do?

They did not give up.  They would not make excuses.  Faith finds a way.  What they did had never been done before.  There was no guarantee of success in their plan.  In discussion among themselves, it may have seemed outlandish.  But, as they looked at their paralyzed friend’s sad condition, they knew that to do nothing was to assure failure.  So, they threw caution to the wind—and the result was a transformation in that man’s life, then and for eternity.  Not only was he healed physically, but spiritually!

If we would bring people to Jesus, we can also be sure of obstacles to overcome. Such a task is seldom quick and easy.  It may require, “thinking outside the box.”  Certainly, this method had never been used before!  Others may need to be enlisted to assist us.  There is a price to pay—but, what is the value of a soul?  Excuses never get the job done. 

We need a faith that perseveres.  In the face of difficulty, our faith is to be determined.  It is at the intersection of faith that the power of God meets the poverty of man—and life change occurs.

So, we roll up out sleeves, set aside our fear and questions, and press forward in faith.  Our friends need Jesus!  Let’s find a way to bring them!

ABIDING FAITHFUL AND ABUNDANTLY FRUITFUL

 

Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  ‎I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. … By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (John 15:4-5)

As a branch separated from the grape vine cannot produce fruit, neither can we generate spiritual fruit unless we faithfully abide in Christ.  He is the source of life, and all that is good.  We may think we can do something ourselves, but it will not stand the test of eternal judgment.  Men may commend us for our work, but it will not last beyond our lifetime.  God says it is nothing—and no other opinion matters.  He gets the final word!

What does it mean to abide in Christ?  It is to stay connected to Him through the Word, prayer, and surrender to His will.  This is suggested in John 15:7, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”  How can I abide in Him without His Word abiding in me?  In the pages of that Holy Book, I meet with Him.  To abide in that Word is more than a casual reading of a verse or two—it is purposeful consideration and persistent contemplation.  In the Scripture, God speaks to me, and then I talk with Him—and I don’t change the subject.  My desires will be linked with His designs, so that I can ask for absolutely anything and He will do it in and through me, for I only want what He wills.  Prayer gives me that connection with Heaven’s resources—and all that is to produce fruit.  Abiding means what God has said to me, and what I have asked God to do through me, is produced as I yield to Him.  James reminds us that we have deceived ourselves if we think hearing is enough—that we will even forget what we have heard—unless we do the Word (see James 1:21-27).  This is abiding in Christ.

What fruit is produced?  It is this, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”  (Gal.5:22-23a)  This is the very life of Jesus manifest in us by the Spirit’s indwelling and empowering.  It is Jesus being Jesus in me—the life of the Vine flowing into the branch connected with Him.  This is preeminently the fruit of character that cannot help but be expressed in conduct.

What is the goal of such a life?  “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”  (John 15:8)  Our objective is not to receive accolades from men for our accomplishments, but to bring glory to God for what He has wrought.  The more fruit we bear, the more glory we bring.  That is why we are here; it is the grand design of discipleship.

The disciple is one who has been summoned to follow Christ, to abide with Him and learn from Him.  Then, they will replicate His life from this association.  When the disciple speaks, it is as though the Teacher is speaking through them, for His Words abide in them.  What they do is the extension of the Master’s hands.  ABIDE IN HIM!

A HEART FOR HOLINESS

 

 

You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions. (Psalm 45:7)

We cannot love righteousness without hating wickedness—since these are mutually exclusive.  The outcome of such a heart for holiness is that God, by the Holy Spirit, anoints us with His joy.

Sadly, those who profess holiness are often caricatured as stern, with a perpetual scowl, and judgmental spirit.  Legalism will do that.  It is the mark of the hypocrite and not the holy.  Such have an external profession of righteousness, but not an internal disposition toward it.  The self-righteous have no deep love for God, and are warped to thinking that hating sin means hating sinners.  There is no true heart for holiness where that is the case.

Instead, the oil of gladness is on the holy man or woman of God.  It radiates from their countenance.  It is heard in the lyrics of their voice.  It is seen in the loving deeds they do.  This joy is the fruit of the Spirit that accompanies love—the right love—a love for God and a love for others.  This love for righteousness means we loathe wickedness.  Here is how the old Apostle John said it:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.  (1 John 2:15-17)

Psalm 45:7 is a Messianic reference, as noted in Hebrews 1:9, where it is quoted as being fulfilled in Jesus.  You note the capitalized pronouns in the text which indicate the author is speaking of Deity.  Jesus is the epitome of true holiness.  If we would be Christ-like, this must be our passionate pursuit, as well.  That is what the world needs to see.

CONNECTED THROUGH PRAYER: The Faithfulness from Our Praying

But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts. (Ephesians 6:21-22)

We may not always be as fruitful as we might wish to be, but we can always be as faithful as we want to be.  Tychicus was marked by faithfulness.  But notice the source of his faithfulness, "in the Lord."  It was the experience of the grace of God that enabled him to extol the glory of God and express the goodness of God in his faithful ministry.

The force that generates faithfulness is accessed through prayer.  Being, "in the Lord" is not only the source of our faithfulness, it is the sphere of it--as we abide in a vital connection, the flow of Christ's life into us becomes the favor of His life through us.  Paul had just begged the believers in Ephesus to pray for him, and now will send Tychicus with that prayer request.  E-mail updates were not available!

If I am faithful in ministering before the Lord in supplication, then I can be faithful in ministering for the Lord in service.  You cannot speak for God publicly, until you hear from God privately.  Doubtless, Tychicus did.

He was, "a beloved brother" to Paul.  Brothers pray for each other and with one another.  They bare their heart and share their burdens. They come before the God of all comfort, to ask Him to bestow that comfort on those who might otherwise be crushed by a load of care.

So, let us seek to be faithful today.  If we are to be, we must be faithful to ask God to make us so.  Our strength is never sufficient, but His grace always is!

CONNECTED THROUGH PRAYER: The Focus of Our Praying

 

and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.  (Ephesians 6:19-20)

If such a spiritual giant as the Apostle Paul sensed a desperate need for others to pray for him, then I know I must have this—and, I suspect, you would feel the same.  Paul doesn’t pen these words from a palace, but a prison.  He was in chains; the Devil had painted a big target on him, and was launching attack after attack.

In those conditions, wouldn’t anyone pray for freedom?

The Apostle does, but the central focus of his request isn’t about getting his body out of a cell, but getting the Gospel out of his mouth!  While I would tend to whine about the deplorable conditions of the dungeon, the paramount plea of this man of God is for boldness in witness.  May we learn this vital lesson today, if we do not grasp any other.

As a pastor, I beg you to pray for me!  There are many matters you could intercede about, but the need for me to speak God’s Word with authority, clarity, liberty and urgency are hugely important.  Do I seek this from God, and will you as a church member pray this for your pastor?

Just last night, news came from Houston, Texas about how the lesbian mayor there has subpoenaed the sermons of pastors she thought might have spoken against the homosexual agenda she is aggressively promoting.  Her efforts are being joined by a chorus of others seeking to chill free speech being expressed in the pulpits.  It seems that this type of thing is only going to intensify as time goes by.  The champions of tolerance will tolerate anything except truth.  No practice is evil except to speak against sin.  Society is to be inclusive of anything except the exclusivity of the Gospel.

Pray for your pastor to speak with authority.  Paul called himself, “an ambassador.”  His authority was in his appointment from heaven.  We stand as God’s representative in this world—and the Devil doesn’t like it!

Pray for your pastor to speak with clarity.  The Apostle was never one to tip-toe around the truth.  He was quite plain spoken.  He saw his purpose as, “to make known the mystery of the gospel.”  My job isn’t to be so profound that you are impressed with my vocabulary, but to be so simple that even a child can grasp the message.  If you don’t understand what the preacher is saying, then what is the point of saying it?

Pray for your pastor to speak with liberty.  Paul requests prayer so, “that utterance may be given to me.”  When he opened his mouth, he wanted something to come out.  He wanted freedom of thought that would bring liberty of expression.  He didn’t want to stutter, but to utter!  Any pastor can tell you when he has liberty in his delivery of a sermon—and the horror of being bound up—and I suspect the congregation notices also!  That should lead you to pray for our liberty,

Pray for your pastor to speak with urgency.  Twice, the Apostle uses the word, “boldly.”  The pressure outside the man of God was for him to back down, tone it down, clam up, and then be able to walk away from his cell.  But, that would also mean to walk away from his call!  Pray for courage of conviction—our time here is marked by the brevity of opportunity and the gravity of eternity to follow.  This presses upon us the urgency of speaking now—sharing often, with passion and conviction.  Sunday’s sermon isn’t the performance of an actor, but the pleading of a rescuer crying for souls to be saved from the wrath that is to come.

Pray for your pastor—and all those who stand to speak for God!  Remember that as a Christian, you are God’s representative to your family, your neighborhood, your school, your work—wherever you go.  My prayer is that you would speak boldly as you ought to speak!

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save. (Fanny Crosby)

 

 

CONNECTED THROUGH PRAYER: The Facets of Our Praying

 

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints  (Ephesians 6:18)

Like a diamond with its many facets, giving the precious gem its sparkle and shine, so there are many facets to this rich treasure we call prayer.

Prayer is worship.  It is making a connection with God where we praise Him for who He is and we thank Him for what He has done.

Prayer is work.  I recall the late Ron Dunn saying that “Prayer doesn’t just fit us for the work—prayer is the work.”  When I work, I work, but when I pray God works!

Prayer is warfare.  The context of Ephesians 6:18 is significant.  Paul has presented the classic passage on spiritual warfare in verses 10-17.  In describing the adversary we confront and detailing the armor for combat, he proceeds to define the arena of conflict.  This spiritual battle is fought in the prayer dimension. It is against spiritual forces of evil and requires spiritual weapons to attain victory.  This power is accessed by prayer.

The pervasive nature of this is found in the phrase, “praying always.”  There is never a time, nor a place that prayer is not appropriate.  While the act of praying, if meaning bowing the head, folding the hands, bending the knee, and speaking the words is being called for, then we cannot do that continually.  But, if we understand this as the attitude of prayer—the connection of God in our heart and mind that leads to a disposition of communion with Him—then this is to be something we may practice continually.

The preeminent nature of this is presented with, “with all prayer.”  There are many dimensions to prayer.  We can pray standing up, sitting down, kneeling or prostrate.  We can be loud, or silent—or something in between.  We can pray in private or in public.  Prayers may be in the form of celebration, contemplation, contrition and much more.  There is petition, supplication and intercession.  Its boundless nature is a testimony to its preeminent quality.

The provisional nature of this is meant by “supplication.” You see the root word, “supply.” We ask God to supply our need and the needs of others.  This verse concludes with, “supplication for all the saints.”  We would not even have a crust or crumb without asking, “give us this day our daily bread,” as Jesus taught us to pray.  Prayer humbles us as we acknowledge our dependency on God.  It strips away our self-centeredness as we plead for others.

The powerful nature of this is seen as we pray, “in the Spirit.”  Because we are weak, and do not know how to pray as we ought, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us in the will of God (see Rom.8:26-27).  When we pray in alignment with His will, then nothing is beyond the reach of our requests, for we have brought Omnipotence into the situation.

The protective nature of this is acknowledged in the exhortation, “being watchful to this end.”  As alluded to previously, Satan is lurking near—ready to strike.  We must pray with our eyes open!  The Christian is a sentry at his post when he prays to fortify his soul, his home, and his church against the attack of the Wicked One.

The persistent nature of this is stated as, “with all perseverance.”  You will always be tempted to give up.  Often the answer is delayed, though not denied, unless we depart from patiently praying.  Many texts point to the need of persevering prayer.  We are not overcoming the reluctance of a stingy Father, but overcoming the resistance of a spiritual foe.  This builds our faith muscle as it is tested, and although potentially changing the situation, will always change us as we spend much time in prayer.

Prayer is hard.  It is a struggle.  Satan will seek to distract you with a multitude of distractions and diversions—even good things that keep you from the main thing.  Seek God—passionately and persistently—and do not think you can live one moment without this oxygen of the soul.  When all is said and done, there is sadly more said about prayer than is done.  So, as Nike famously put it, “JUST DO IT!”

CONNECTED THROUGH PRAYER

 

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints  (Ephesians 6:18)

There is much we can do after we pray, but nothing can be done until we pray.  If there is a desperate need in the church today, it is a renewed zeal for prayer.  Without this direct connection with heaven, the power we need to fulfill our mission is short-circuited.  The church is tasked with a work so great that it is humanly impossible, and demands heavenly intervention.  This requires our holy intercession.

Do we not recall the scene nearly 2,000 years ago in that upper room where 120 believers gathered?  They connected with each other in fervent prayer and connected with God Almighty through His Son.  The Holy Spirit came down in response—and the world has never been the same.  It was a dark and demonic time—a world in bondage to idolatry and immorality.  Paganism was pervasive.  But, God would raise up an army to march against the gates of Hell—and they would prevail through prayer.  The advance of the church is always on her knees.

It has been said that on the Day of Pentecost those first Christians prayed for ten days, preached for ten minutes, and three thousand were converted.  Today, we pray for ten minutes, preach for ten days, and if three get saved, we declare a revival has come!

It is time for the church to recover the prayer connection, and understand the reality of an old hymn we used to sing:

Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God;
Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.

Sisters, will you join and help us? Moses’ sister aided him;
Will you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin?
Tell them all about the Savior, tell them that He will be found;
Sisters, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.  (George Atkins)

Will you?

CONNECTED IN SERVICE: Expressing God's Praise in Service

speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:19-21)

In all we do, our aim as the people of God is to glorify Him.  Service can be holy, or it can be hypocritical.  It may be that the outward manifestation appears good--in our giving, our praying, our fasting, and the like (see Matt.6:1-18)--but the inward motivation is bad: to be seen of men.  Our "service to God" becomes self-serving, and God doesn't judge by outward appearance. He looks at the heart (1 Sam.16:7).

Our singing should honor God.  Our aim is music that glorifies God.  It honors Him when it is given in a heartfelt desire to praise Him.  It is "singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord"  We stir each other to join, and we instruct one another when the lyrics are full of Scripture.  Notice, there is a variety of types of music, "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" but a united passion to glorify God--not to be impressed by a musician's talent.

Sadly, too many Christians are more concerned with style than substance--too consumed with what blesses them than how they bless God.  It misses the whole point, doesn't it?  When we demand a particular preference or we pout, it ignores our call to submit to one another.  If an older generation wants Southern Gospel and stops singing when a contemporary song is shared, what does that communicate to the young members present?  It is self-serving.  If teens and young adults scorn the traditions of an older generation, refusing to participate in worship unless there is a wailing guitar and flashing lights, that too is self-serving.  Such attitudes--and I understand these are generalizations--are wrong.

Our speaking should honor God.  The objective is messages that glorify God.  Our mouths should continually express gratitude, "giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Complaints and criticisms are corrosive--eating away at the connection of believers to each other.  This is a self-serving attitude, that exhibits itself in our speech, for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.  On the other hand, a grateful soul expresses itself in thanksgiving--irrespective of the circumstances.  It is praise that is perpetual, "always," pervasive, "for all things," and pointed, "to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Our submitting should honor God.  The goal is ministry that glorifies Him, "submitting to one another in the fear of God."  When I stoop to serve fellow believers, I am actually serving Christ (read Matt.25:31-46).  Submission is not a popular concept in our world.  We assert our rights.  God wants us instead to assume our responsibilities.  How can I know if I have a heart submissive to God?  By my willingness to serve those made in His image.  What would our church gatherings be like if we connected in service?

CONNECTED IN SERVICE: Unleashing God's Power for Service

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)

God never asks us to do something without equipping us for the task.  The work He has assigned to His church cannot be accomplished with human ingenuity and ability; it takes the power of Almighty God.  Yet, the corollary is that God does not do His work apart from us.  In His omniscience, He has chosen to make us channels of His omnipotence.  The very Spirit of God indwells His Body, the church, and we become Christ's hands and feet to the world.  When we share the Gospel, the Spirit calls sinners to Christ in transforming power.

The Spirit resides in every believer.  But, to be filled with the Spirit means more--it means He presides over us!  The command to refuse being filled with wine and instead receive the fullness of the Spirit are linked together for a reason.  This is not the first time that connection has been made.  When the Holy Spirit first invaded the church on the Day of  Pentecost, the believers were accused of being drunk.  A careful reading of Peter's response shows that he was not so much denying they were drunk, but that they were not drunk with wine--they were intoxicated with God!

When a person is drunk with wine, they have chosen to be under the control of alcohol.  It affects negatively everything about them--the way they think, how they see, how they talk, how they walk, and alters their very personality.  In a positive way, when we are filled with the Spirit, we have submitted to His control, and we think in a different way, see from another perspective, talk with a new vocabulary, walk in obedience to Christ, and lose our inhibitions in taking a bold stand for the Lord!

This is not meant to be a rare experience of an elite few Christians.  Being Spirit-filled is the normative standard for all God's people.  I  once heard that this is not so much a promise to claim as a command to keep!  If i disobey God and get drunk, it is sin.  If I am not filled with the Spirit, it is likewise sin--and will lead to more sin!  On the other hand, if the Spirit of Holiness fills me, sin has no room to operate.  We cannot be full of self and full of the Spirit.  Our passion should be that of John the Baptist who said of Jesus, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30)

Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5), but with Him, we can do all things (Phil.4:13)!  Let us confess our sin and be cleansed, asking God to empty us of self and fill us with Himself.  Moment by moment, as we submit to the Lord, we can walk in the fullness of the Spirit and serve Christ with freedom and fruitfulness.  That is the connection that unleashes the power of God in my service.  What an impact we can have on our world, when a local church has Spirit-filled members connected with each other!  We can be like those in the first-century who, upside down" (Acts 17:6).  Really, it is putting it right-side up!  Isn't it about time?

CONNECTED IN SERVICE: Understanding God's Plan for Service

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

Yogi Berra said, "If you don't know where you're going, you might not get there."  Paul may not have expressed it that way, but he does remind us that God has a plan for our life, and we need to be progressing in His path.  The Apostle often refers to our life as a "walk."  When you walk, you are getting somewhere--steadily moving forward.  Is that an accurate depiction of your current experience with God?

One thing I know--God has saved you for you to serve Him.  His Spirit indwells you to gift you in that task.  Together, as the Body of Christ, we are to do His work in the world.  We must walk, "circumspectly"--carefully, because it is easy to stumble or be detoured.  The Devil is a master at that.

We have a roadmap--the Bible.  The wisdom of God is found in the Word of God.  We need to find out the will of God for us and get going today!  It is the height of folly to waste time.  Instead, we are to be "redeeming the time."  That is, we exchange the time of earth for the treasure of eternity.  Time lost is beyond recovery.  But, time given in serving Christ is safely invested in Heaven and accumulates interest until the end of time!   It will be an incredible payday!

There is much to be done, "because the days are evil."  It will be challenging work--a walk on the battlefield, as we advance in enemy territory--but we are on a Kingdom mission to rescue the fallen.  "Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."  Understanding the strategy mapped out in Scripture, it is time to move out in service.  Our Commander leads the way, and victory is assured!

CONNECTED IN SERVICE

submitting to one another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:21)

Submission is the attitude and activity of serving another.  The reach of submission is "to one another."  Every member of the church is included in Paul's command.  The reason for submission is "the fear of God."  Having submitted to the Lord, we obey Him, and He has commanded us to submit to each other.

Far too often, churches seem marked by spiritual anarchy.  The members pursue their own agenda rather than God's.  Sometimes, this is through ignorance--they don't understand what the will of the Lord is (see Eph.5:17 where we are commanded to have this understanding), but far too often it is defiance--we know we are to serve others, but we want them to serve us.

The church may degenerate rapidly into a self-service operation.  That is, the members are focused on self being served instead of serving their fellowman.

They demand to be "fed" which usually means they think they are so "spiritually mature" that the pastor's sermons aren't "deep" enough for them.  Doubtless, there is some shallow preaching out there.  But, it is likewise true that many have been exposed to the Christian celebrities on TV and the internet, and it is hard for the local church pastor to measure up in comparison.  John Maxwell called people with this mindset, "spiritual porkers."  They never make any effort to serve others, choosing rather to gorge themselves.

Most music ministries will not attain the quality of what you can purchase on a CD, hear on the radio, or watch on a broadcast from a mega-church.  Are we concerned about the entertainment value or consumed with a passion to worship God?  Is it about enjoying a performance that pleases our ears, or expressing our praise that pleases God?  There is nothing wrong with seeking to do the best we can to glorify the Lord, but it is easy to cross the line into demanding music that blesses us, rather than blessing God.

Demanding ministry instead of doing ministry is missing the mark.  God wants us to submit to Him in fear and out of that to serve one another in love.  It is a subject worth exploring in depth, and with God's help, we will do so in subsequent studies this week.

CONNECTED THROUGH WORDS: Healthy Speech

 

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.  (Ephesians 4:31-32)

Honest and helpful speech will be healthy speech.  It promotes wholesome relationships.

Why do you think when you go to the doctor, he or she says, “Open your mouth, stick out your tongue, and say, ‘Ah’ ”?  The physician can tell a great deal about your physical health by simply looking at your tongue.  When you examine what comes out of your mouth, what does it disclose about the condition of your relationships?

Healthy relationships will, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” (Eph.4:31).  Suppose you were diagnosed with cancer—an aggressive kind—that the surgeon says must be removed immediately.  When you awaken from the operation, the first question you are likely to ask your doctor is, “Did you get it all?”  You realize that with cancer, to leave any cells, is to see it attack your body again and kill you.  Paul, as a doctor of the soul, tells us that the spiritual malignancies of “bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”  These are lethal to a relationship and must be excised—all of it!

Yet, the removal of cancer, vital as that would be to living, does not insure we are healthy.  Positively, there would need to be the proper diet, exercise, and sleep, if physical conditioning is to be classified as being healthy.  I mean you might not have cancer, but die of a heart attack from gorging yourself and lying around like an old hog!  I’ve heard the term, “healthy as a horse,” but not “healthy as a hog”!  So, the Apostle says that healthy communication demands the diet of kindness, the exercise of tenderheartedness, and the rest of forgiveness.  The standard is to forgive as Christ has forgiven us.

Recall the story Jesus told about a king whose servant owed him a great sum.  When the bill came due, the servant had no means to pay such a sum.  In those days, a man could be cast into debtor’s prison, but when the fellow tearfully shared his bankruptcy, the wealthy master—who was also rich in kindness—forgave the debt.  He wrote every cent off the ledger and bore the loss himself.

But, there was more to the story.  The fellow who had experienced such generosity, had a fellow servant who owed him a small sum compared to the great amount he had owed.  He demanded payment, nonetheless.  The other servant couldn’t come up with even that amount.  Then, the lender grabs the borrower by the throat, slams him against the wall, and demanded that he pay or be put in prison—and that he did—throwing his fellow servant in jail.

Word gets back to the king—and he was ticked!  After he was so generous, and that man was so greedy!  Remember what happened?

Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (Matthew 18:32-35)

When we don’t forgive we harm ourselves.  The iron bars of bitterness hold us captive.  We become tortured souls.  If we want forgiveness, we must be willing to offer it.

“They owe me!”

No doubt, but what do you owe God in comparison?  A debt that could not be fully paid if you were tormented for eternity?  Yet, Christ has forgiven you!  His blood has blotted out your debt toward heaven.  Should we not write off in kindness and tenderheartedness the sum others owe us?

Healthy relationships mean we sincerely say two words, “I’m sorry” and the response is three words, “I forgive you.”  Open your mouth, stick out your tongue—what does it reveal about your health?

CONNECTED THROUGH WORDS: Helpful Speech

 

 

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:29-30)

Our words should be honest.  But, they should also be helpful.  You can be brutally honest.  As a child I can remember having someone walk up to me and say, “You have big ears!”  They may be elephantine, but there is no value in sharing that assessment!  It is like the fellow who was asked by his wife, “Does this dress make me look fat?” who replied, “No, dear, it’s your hips that make you look that way.”  He then could see nothing because of his black and blue eyes, swollen shut from the punch she gave him!

We are to be honest—and helpful—in what we say.  Truth needs to be told, but we do not have to tell everything we know!  Someone may respond, “I’m transparent—I just say what I think!”  Perhaps you shouldn’t think things like that, when it comes to being demeaning about others.  If you allow that prickly attitude to be nurtured in the soil of your soul, then you aren’t likely to stick others with the thorns of hurtful talk.  The weeds of wicked words need to be uprooted at the source

Helpful speech is when GODLESS TALK IS SILENCED, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth” (Ephesians 4:29a).  Our hearts are corrupt—and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  That is where the corrupt language spews forth.  But, the child of God has a new heart—the Divine nature of Christ has been implanted by His indwelling Spirit.  The old, polluted fountain can be plugged by the Cross, and a fresh, flowing stream of life-giving waters can be spoken.  If the vileness of foul language is predominant, we should rightfully consider if the Cross has been applied!  Yet, even so, there is the possibility as long as we are in this world of sin, and inhabiting this body of death, that a trickle of corruption might leak out.  Beware lest a trickle become a torrent!  One of the first things I noticed about my new birth is that a new vocabulary developed.

Helpful speech is when GRACIOUS TALK IS SPOKEN, “what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”  In contrast to godless talk that is harmful, gracious talk is helpful.  It is not enough to silence evil words, we must speak good words.  Jesus Christ has put grace in our hearts, but we are not to be reservoirs—we are to be rivers.  My life is to be a channel of blessing, and my words are often the pipeline dispensing that grace to others.  Just moments ago, I e-mailed a missionary we support, living in a distant and dangerous place, a brief word of encouragement.  It may be the sip of refreshing water that enables him to press on in a dry and barren wilderness of the pagan place where he ministers.  Gracious words build up—that is the meaning of “edification.”  Someone you know needs building up today!

Helpful speech is when GRIEVOUS TALK IS SHUNNED, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”  (Ephesians 4:30)  There are numerous ways that we can grieve the Holy Spirit, but surely sinful speech is meant in this context.  He is the Spirit of Truth who comes to build up His church, so if we speak in ways that are dishonest and divisive, that grieves Him.  He is faithful to seal us as God’s children—and He will not abandon us.  When our speech repels others from the fellowship, how it wounds the Spirit!  God’s Spirit sees what even the struggling saint will become in the day of redemption, and assures him or her of the end result.  When I am too busy picking our failures and magnifying flaws in my fellow church members, can I not see how that breaks the Spirit’s heart?  He is not a hoot owl, or a shrieking war eagle, but the Dove of Peace.  Words that disturb the peace of the believer and beat the drums of war among the people of God are grievous to Him!  That ought to grieve us and drive us to our knees in repentance and then rise and run into the arms of each other in reconciliation.

I am taking the time to share these words because they are helpful!  But, the potential aid of these truths will only become powerful as they are applied.  My prayer is that I will be an example of this with my family and to my flock.  I desire that as I encounter the lost souls in my world today that my words would be winsome that I may win some.

Is that your prayer?